Which desert is the largest on Earth, covering Antarctica’s ice-covered interior?

The Antarctic Desert is the largest desert on Earth, covering most of Antarctica’s ice-covered land.

A desert is defined by very low precipitation, not by heat. Antarctica receives little snowfall across its vast interior, and the cold air holds little moisture. Although the continent is covered by ice, its climate is sufficiently dry to qualify as a polar desert.

The Antarctic Desert is much larger than the Sahara Desert. The Sahara is the world’s largest hot desert, while Antarctica is the largest desert of any type. Coastal parts of Antarctica can receive more precipitation, but the continent’s enormous central ice sheet remains extremely dry.

Antarctica’s ice is ancient and stores most of Earth’s fresh water. Its desert conditions result from cold temperatures, high elevation, and atmospheric circulation that limits moisture reaching the interior.